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No.8289. Warranted 30th April 1969 Consecrated on the 20th June 1969.

Meeting at the Masonic Hall, New Road, Porthcawl.

The formation of a new lodge at Porthcawl in the late 1960 was the brain-child of the late W.Bro. Sqadron Leader D. Alun Lloyd D.F.C., D.F.M., P.J.G.D. who was at the time the Secretary of the R.M.B.I. As he was closely involved in the building of the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court, his intention was to engender support from the Home when it became operational. He therefore had to spread his influence further than the narrow confines of Porthcawl. He determined that this would be best achieved by forming a lodge with a catchment area spreading from Swansea in the west, Pontypridd in the north, and Cardiff in the East IE. All within reasonable travelling distance.

Under the guidance and co-operation of W.Bro. Harold Wilson, Assistant P.G.M., he approached the Venables Llewellyn Lodge No.3756 whose committee agreed to sponsor such a lodge. Grand Lodge was petitioned, an a Warrant issued for KENFIG LODGE No. 8289, dated 30th April 1969. It had previously been accepted that the first W.M. would be W.Bro. Harold Wilson Asst. P.G.M., as S.W. W.Bro. D. Alun Lloyd and the J.W. – Bro. Dewi Matthews. Together they selected their team of first officers from among the Founders, covering a wide territorial catchment area. W. Bro.O.B. Jones, P.M. Cambrensis Lodge No.6608 was appointed to act as I.P.M. for the first year on of W.Bro.Harold Wilson, Assistant P.G.M., he approached the Venables Llewellyn Lodge No. 3756 whose committee agreed to sponsor such a lodge. A group of 26 founders was formed, and it was determined that he lodge be named Kenfig, the name of an ancient local village. It was also determined that the Lodge would meet four times annually, I.E. March, June, September and November, with the installation Ceremony being worked at the November meeting.

The Lodge was subsequently consecrated at the Masonic Temple, Porthcawl on the 20th June 1969 by the R.W, Bro. The Right Hon. The Lord Swansea P.G.M., assisted by the R.W.Bro. Edgar J Rutter O.S.M., P.J.G.W., Dep. P.G.M., and W.Bro. Harry F. Stockwell P.J.G.D., Asst P.G.M. together with their team of consecrating officers. The following treatise of the historic village of Kenfig was compiled and delivered at the consecration by W.Bro., The Rev. Cannon T.K. Brunsdon Ass. G.Chap. who was also the consecration chaplain:-

The ancient city of Kenfig lies buried beneath the sand dunes three miles west of Porthcawl. 800 years ago it was a busy commercial centre, having it’s regular weekly markets and two annual fairs. It had a navigable river and a large sea port, and was a military station and chartered borough well governed by a Portreeve and twelve aldermen elected by the citizens.

Among the ruins of it’s former glories is said to be a Church built by Morgan Mwyn Mawr, the founder of Glamorgan, about AD 520. In AD 893 Kenfig was sacked and burned by the Black Pagans (The Vikings), and between then and 1402 the city was destroyed by fire at the hands of the marauders no less than eight times. However, the chief foe was sand.

No device of this period could resist the forward march of the sand driven inland by the channel gales. Eventually the city, with it’s law courts, hospital and church were slowly but completely covered. In 1445, Leyland, the famous chronicle writer wrote “There is a village on the East side of Kenfig and a Castle, both in ruins and almost choked and devoured with the sands that the Severn se castith up.” A great storm of 1607 completed the burial of all save the castle.

The right of sanctuary was observed at Kenfig on many occasions and particularly by Morgan Gam, the Welsh leader in 1231. He and his forces made no attempt to damage the sacred buildings nor did he molest the refugees gathered there in.

The city had it’s Charter, of which the first is said to have been granted by Sir Leisan De Avene in 1158, which has been lost though the charter granted by Sit Thomas Despenser is still extant. The old form of local government as established by the Despencer Charter continued until 1886 in spite of sand and foe. However, under the Municipal Corporations Act the ancient corporation of Kenfig was at last dissolved and a board to formed to manage the burgess’s affairs.

The meeting place of the Trustees and of the Kenfig Parish Council is in an upper room of the old Guild hall (Now the Prince of Wales Holstelry.) This was once the seat of Government and is situated on a ridge to the east and out of reach of the sand.

Thus the name of the ancient city lives on. It is thought appropriate that it should also be perpetuated in the name of this new Masonic Lodge of Porthcawl.

Thus the Lodge was able to be fully functional well before the official laying of the foundation stone of the Home which took place 21st September 1970.